Let's work out some official rules for this forum.

[Buster's Uncle]

It strikes to mention that IMO welcoming a newb one their first post is never off-topic anywhere - just, depending on the appropriateness of the thread, try not to push it getting into a subsequent conversation with them in the same place.

[JarlWolf]

The way I see it is light hearted humour is perfectly fine no matter where and when posted, as long as its in context/not distracting to the subject matter.

As for trolls or what have you, people who are here to waste time to get a redundant form of rush from irritating people, just crush them. We aren't here for idiocy, were here to have fun and speak amongst ourselves. I would personally have it that every new member has to read the rules or so, or at least a message referencing it sent to them automatically as they join.

They break the rules, the rules break them, its simple. People who break serious rules that are explicitly stated within the new charter of rules should be punished for it.
People who aren't a serious problem but made a simple mistake or what not should get a warning.

And most of all, if people lack common sense, enforce it. They fail to follow, let natural selection take it's course.

I know im an authoritarian moldy at the worst but I think it's wise to have enforced rules combined with a compassionate community. It proves that we care for our forum's well being.

[Green1]

My anarchist nature shows here. The more rules and policemen a forum community needs, the less fun place it is to be. Usually because the community has big asshats and needs all those rules. Hell, one board, Talk Rational has like friggin panels for each ban/ suspension and public "trial/appeals" threads with a member of the admin presenting the case to ban and a panel of members voting. One such was a girl than PMed folks getting money for things then being rude to the members. They ended up keeping her because their 3 page long forum rules charter did not say anything about gettiing money from members!

Elitist Jerks (a MMO board) Bans you for not using a search topic - or even asking a question.

How about this I think everyone can agree on:

Do Not be a Dick... we are all old bitter wargame nerds. No need for peeing in the inner sanctum. You are welcome here, friend

for those that need being a dick defined:

1. No spamming or advertising products or links to affiliate marketer websites.
2. No outright meanness or harassment. Arguements and debates are acceptable as this is a discussion board as long as personal attacks are left at the door and rational points are used.
3. Post with some substance. Over use of one to four sentence posts just to increase post count is frowned on.

Interpretation of those rules is left to BU and the mods and admins. But really, I do not see any real moderation that is needed since we are all war game nerds and all get along. I would have to leave if this was a FPS board.

[Buster's Uncle]

Well - I will say this.  I don't need no steenking rules.  We've done extremely well so far as a benign dictatorship -

The rules are for you guys.  A disproportionate percentage of the bad experiences I've had on forums over the years have starred man-children with no sense of proportion and shiny nerdbadges.  As a regular member, this place would make me nervous if I didn't know the fellows in charge (and their good records of not lording it over the membership) pretty well.  Under an ethical forum administration, a good ruleset protects you.  It articulates boundaries to what I can do to you and why.

Now all I need myself to run the place, people-wise, is a well thought-out moderating philosophy and the consent of my partner.  That, a friendly, respectful, manner and the occasional "dude; not cool" has worked VERY well.  If the members are content with that, I certainly am -- I only instigated this project because I WOULD want rules if I was still on the other side of the badge.  If y'all are happy the way things stand, I am.  Everybody happy is the name of the game.  Talk among yourselves. 

[testdummy653]

being a dick defined:

1. No spamming or advertising products or links to affiliate marketer websites.
2. No outright meanness or harassment. Arguements and debates are acceptable as this is a discussion board as long as personal attacks are left at the door and rational points are used.
3. Post with some substance. Over use of one to four sentence posts just to increase post count is frowned on.

Interpretation of those rules is left to BU and the mods and admins. But really, I do not see any real moderation that is needed since we are all war game nerds and all get along. I would have to leave if this was a FPS board.

I hate rules that require you to write a page. Sometimes there is a need to be brief.

[Buster's Uncle]

Well, it's not been a problem so far, and strikes me as one of those 90s holdovers besides.  The server is a bit more powerful these days, so no strong need for a rule as long as no one makes it a problem.

[Yitzi]

Also, a post that is brief but has substance and isn't just to increase post count would still be ok by that rule.

[testdummy653]

I don't think forum needs in-depth rules, generalities such as no spam or no trolling should work.  I think each individual forum section should have their own rules sticky telling users what this forum is dedicated to and what can't be posted (I.E off topic or fan fiction can't be posted in Theory of Everything)

[Buster's Uncle]

It strikes me that one thing we haven't really covered is that standards differ from person to person; if, for example, Kilkakon is by nature a huge topic Nazi, clowns like me should HAVE TO respect his wishes, and without complaint.  I can find thread appropriate to joke around in, so I shouldn't have a problem with him wanting focused discussion in threads he started.  By the same light, Kil ought to be respectful and polite in asking me to cut it out or get out of his thread.  We don't have to come into conflict over it.

If a serious discussion broke out in, for example, Uno's "Total Chaos/Trolling Welcome/Everything Goes" thread, Kil would be right to ask me (or more likely sisko, as I'm probably guilty of SOMEthing in there) to split the thread or something.  We CAN just all get along.

...

We haven't unanimity, but perhaps a consensus, that a short list of broad "No Trolling" rules with much commentary appended for those who want to read in depth is the way to go - I think we've got what me need to at least get started right here in this thread, if anyone wants to do a lot of copy-pasting and get it organized.  Anyone?  (I'm fine with staying an unrestricted dictatorship, so I ain't gonna do it...)

[Green1]

I really do not see any problems unless there are things going on behind the scenes in PMs. In fact, I have only seen you ban one person, BU, and only for a limited time at that.

This is a ancient 4x board. Everyone here is pretty cool and a bit older and very intelligent. It is not like you are a mod of MMO Champion or some of the various FPS boards. Those mod's banhammers are permanently stained with the blood of idiots and trolls. I do not think we have seen any true trolls (yet) and I am sure if one does appear, it will be dealt with.

[Buster's Uncle]

Hey, it just stuck me - sometimes you hear stories about someone PMing gross porn to someone who doesn't like it?  That's now officially against the rules here, before anyone's actually done it...  Send only smut of a sort you're fairly sure the recipient will appreciate, and like with teasing, stop if the other member asks, and don't call anyone a big fat girl for opting out.  This place runs on respect.

I'd rather there wasn't a lot of PM porn, anyway, so please don't take inspiration...

[ete]

About swear words since I saw BU ask someone not to use them earlier, I'm not someone who swears personally often, but imo it's something which should be allowed. Obviously if you're swearing at someone aggressively that's not on, but the issue there is that you're being nasty, not the swearing. No one here is going to be 12, or not have learned to tolerate the odd swear word, and I imagine some people feel a bit uncomfortable with a blanket swear prohibition.

[Buster's Uncle]

I was asking everyone to turn it down a notch.  We have a crappy swear filter, and I honestly don't like having to edit posts - but if certain common terms appear too often, all the search engines will classify this as an adult/NSFW site, and there go at least half our search hits, a lot of lurkers, and who knows how many future members.  Also, Kilkakon, and that's not one of my jokes.

I want those future members...

However, the feedback is appreciated, and I even tend to agree, if it was only a member comfort issue.  I'd tend to keep MY cussin' on a short leash, mind you, because it's just the classy way to behave in public.  This IS in public.  (You may have noted that I swear a lot more in the Staff Room; in private is a [censored] of a different color.)

[ete]

Search engines don't care about sites which allow swear words for NSFW filters (if we had a forum dedicated to erotic fanfiction it may be different, but that's not the case), and though adsense does have a rule against excessive profanity there's no way we're going to get anything like close to what they'd have issue with, I've seen sites with significant swearing running adsense just fine.

[testdummy653]

If your going ask people to not to swear, then it should be a blanket rule. @Ete, just because this game is old doesn't mean we could have young members. (Also ete, I hope your doing well!)

Just thought I drop in.